Cam selecting mechanism for sewing machines



June 28, 1966 FUJI KOIKE CAM SELECTING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29, 1956 s? NEW Q 31% E m m mm A f w June 28,1966 FUJI KOIKE 3,257,980

CAM SELECTING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 29, 1956 5Sheets-Sheet 2 &

INVENTOR Mg z fmlle IMP pM A M ATTORNEYS June 28, 1966 FUJI KOIKE3,257,980

CAM SELECTING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 29, 1956 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 28, 1966 FUJI KOIKE 3,257,980

CAM SELECTING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 29, 1956 5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR k4, Mw

ATTORN EYS June 28, 1966 FUJI KOIKE CAM SELECTING MECHANISM FOR SEWINGMACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 29, 1956 4 I [1- IIIIIIIIIIII.

lllllm lNVENTO R 121 '1 170116 BY KM/ MTQZ Q United States Patent3,257,980 CAM SELECTING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Fuji Koike,Nagoya, Japan, assignor to Brother Industries,

Ltd., Horita-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Japan, a corporation of JapanFiled May 29, 1956, Ser. No. 588,070 Claims priority, application Japan,June 2, 1955, 30/15,087; Oct. 29, 1955, 30/225,473 9 Claims. (Cl.112-158) This invention relates to improvements in zigzag sewingmachines and especially to a cam-selecting mechanism forming part ofsuch machines.

Zigzag sewing machines are known wherein the lateral rocking movement ofthe needle bar is controlled by a cam selected from a group of cams;Machines of this type are also known in which a more complicated stitchpattern is produced by controlling the material feed movement as well asthe needle bar lateral movement. It is also'theoretically possible tocontrol direction as well as the rate of the material-feeding movementby a further cam selected from another series of cams. Such anarrangement is impractical, however, because of the complicatedmechanisms and operations involved. In addition, undesida-blecombinations could not'be avoided, when separate cam-selecting means areprovided for needle-bar-controlling cam groups and formaterial-feedmovement control cams.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a zigzagsewing machine of improved type, which, although simple and easy tooperate, is highly compact in its design, despite the fact that it isprovided with two groups of cams for said dual control purposes.

Thus, according to the present invention there is provided a zigzagsewing machine including a needle bar assembly, material feed mechanismand two groups of cams. The material feed mechanism is controllable bothas to direction of feed and rate of feed by a cam follower engaging acam selected from one of these groups. The lateral rocking movement ofthe needle bar assembly is controllable by a cam follower engaging Y acam selected from the second group of cams. A single manually andreadily operable control assembly is provided which serves to select oneof a predetermined number of combinations of a cam from each group.These exercise their respective controlling functions and thus produce apredetermined and desired stitch pattern.

Preferably, the control assembly includes a rotatable dial assembly anda pointer by reference to which the assembly may readily be set toselect a desired predetermined stitch pattern.

The cam followers may be slidably mounted for movement relative to thegroups of cams. The assembly further includes means to retract the camfollowers from engagement with the cams, thus enabling the cam followersto be easily moved without interference to a newly selected positionjMoreover, it is preferred that the assembly include a structurepreventing the cam followers from being moved without having first beenretracted from engagement with the cams. Accordingly, the camselectingmeans is rendered foolproof against manipulations such as might causeserious damage to the mechanisms.

It is also preferred to include further control means for increasing anddecreasing the rate of the material-feeding movement, in order toenhance the versatility of the machine.

The selection of a predetermined combination of a cam from each groupmay conveniently be achieved, in accordance with the present teachings,by means of a control assembly cam.

ice

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attachedsheets of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the inventionand in which:

FIG. 1 is a prespective view of the essential parts of a sewing machinemechanism and including one form of the present teachings;

FIG. 2 is a sectional front view of the assembly;

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary sectional view of one desirable form ofcoupling which is included in the mech- FIG. 6 is a transverse sectionalview taken along the line 6-6 in the direction of the arrows asindicated in FIG. 4; I

FIG. 7 is a similar view taken along the line 77 in the direction of thearrows as indicated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary and partly sectional side view of those parts ofthe mechanism which are disposed adjacent the control dial;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of certain details of thatcontrol mechanism;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view in enlarged scale of thecomponents of the amplitude control;

FIG. 11 is a sectional side view of a coupling assembly embodied in theapparatus; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary face view of a portion of material withstitching embraced therein.

Referring primarily to FIGS. 1 and 2, there has been indicated at 15 abase portion, which is extended to provide a casing part 16. Within andabove this the usual platform or deck housing the shuttle and feedmechanisms is positioned. The usual casing 17 extends upwardly from base15 adjacent one end of the assembly. An arm 18 of the casing extendsgenerally parallel to and overlying the base 15 at the upper end of part17. This arm terminates in a casing head part 19, from which the needlebar 28 extends downwardly. The casing portion 16 supports the plate 20which covers its upper face. That plate is provided with the usualopenings, through which the feed mechanism extends substantially in linewith the path of movement of thebar and the needle carried thereby.

Adjacent the head portion 19 of the casing assembly, the thread take-uplever 21 is mounted to have its outer end move to a position beyond thatcasing. This lever is supported intermediate its ends by a pivot 22extending from a link 23, in turn supported by a shaft 24 fixed to thecasing 19. An operating shaft 25 is mounted for rotation within casingportion 18 and supports adjacent the head 19 a crank 26. By means of acrank pin 27, the thread take-up lever is connected to rock with respectto link 23 as shaft 25 turns. This pin is also connected to needle bar28 which supports needle 29. The latter is supported for verticalmovement within a guide 30. Such guide is, in turn, pivotally supportedas at 31 and connected to a bar 32 extending length-wise of easingportion 18. It is apparent that when bar 32 is reciprocated, the guide30 will be rocked with respect to its point of support 31. Consequently,as bar 28 reciprocates, it may simultaneously be oscillated through alimited are extending ina lateral direction.

A presser foot 33 is disposed adjacent the station at which the needle29 moves. That foot is formed with a laterally extending slot ofsutficient length to permit 3 entry and withdrawal of the needle 29within the limits of its oscillating movement as imparted to it by bar28.

The bar or link 32 is normally maintained in retracted position to theright (as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2) by means of a spring 34. A nosepiece35 is secured to the end bar or link 32; attention also being invited toFIG. 10. A link 36 has one end pivotally mounted as at 36' within thecasing extension 18. Its body extends adjacent the nosepiece 35 andslidably supports the latter by, for example, a pin and slot coupling37. A shaft 38 supports a forked member 39 (FIG. disposed at the end ofan arm secured to that shaft. The legs of the forked portion 39 receivebetween them a pin 46. This pin is attached to the end of arm 36. A knob41 (FIG. 4) is supported for rotation with shaft 38 outside the casing.When this knob is oscillated, it will turn shaft 38 and rock forkedmember 39. This will raise and lower the free inner end of link 32 andthe nosepiece 35 carried thereby.

Pivotally supported (FIG. 10) as at 41' is a bell crank lever, one arm42 of which extends downwardly and mounts a pivot 42. The lower end ofthe latter carries the lower end of a track member 43. Nosepiece 35bears against this track or guide 43. The second arm 44 of the bellcrank lever terminate in a forked portion 45. Within the space definedbetween the arms of the latter, a pin 46 is disposed. That pin iscarried by a hub 47 encircling shaft 38 and rotatable with respectthereto. As shown particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pointer or indicatingelement 48 is attached to that end of member or arm 39 which is securedto shaft 38. This element in cooperation with suitable indicia displayedupon a plate 49 will register the position to which forked member 39 hasbeen shifted by actuation of knob 41.

An actuator such as 50 (see FIG. 4) is connected to hub 47. Therefore,with the former being shifted, that hub will rotate within a limitedare. So rotating, its pin 46 will shift arm 44 around pivot 41' tocorrespondingly shift arm 42 and pivot 42 of track member 43. Again anysuitable register or indicating structure may be provided so that anoperator will be readily aware of the position assumed by the partsincident to a shifting of actuator 54 A lever 51 (FIG. 10) is pivotallysupported as at 52 by the casing. The end of this lever terminates in acontact 7 portion 53, bearing against the rear face of the rail or guideelement 43. The opposite end of this lever bears against a ledge 54secured to and extending laterally of a shaft 55. Assuming that thelatter is rocked, it will be apparent that the abutment or ledge 54bearingagainst lever 51 will rock its lower end around pivot 52.Therefore, its contact portion 53 will be similarly moved. When shiftedin a counter clockwise direction this contact portion 53 will cause railor guide element 43 to be similarly rocked around its point of pivotalsupport 42'. Therefore, nosepiece 35 will be shifted to the left. Withsuch shifting, link 32 will be likewise shifted against the urging ofspring 34. When leverSl is no longer urged upwardly by ledge or abutment54, but rather shaft 55 has rocked so that the lower end of this levermay move in a clockwise direction, its upper end will move similarly.This will permit rail or guide element 43 to shift in an identicalmanner due to the fact that nosepiece 35 is pressed against this elementbecause of the action of spring 34 connected to link 32.

Assuming that lever 51 has a constant arc of oscillation, it will beunderstood that it will cause a constant rocking of guide or trackmember 43. However, according to the point of engagement of nosepiece 35with that member, that nosepiece and link 32 will be reciprocated to alesser or greater extent. Minimum movement of the link 32 will occurwhen the nosepiece is adjacent pivot 42 and maximum movement when it isadjacent the opposite end of member 43. When hub 47 is shifted to rockarm 44 of the bell crank lever and thus the second arm of the 4 latter,pivot 42' will be shifted either towards pivot 52 or in the direction oflink 32. As will be apparent, this provides an adjustment for the rangeof reciprocation of link 32. That range will be translated by shiftingguide 39. Such shifting will occur under the action of track member 43and the movement of the latter and the zone of reciprocation of link 32will depend upon the position which bell crank lever 42-44 ha assumed bythe shifting of the actuator 50. The range or reciprocation of link 32will, of course, depend upon the distance nosepiece 35 is removed frompivot 42'.

According to whether control 50 is to the left or right of its centralposition, needle bar 28 will be displaced to the left or right of itsintermediate position, thus resulting in the stitch pattern occurring tothe left or right of a central line. The function of the control 50 isillustrated in FIG. 12, wherein 150 shows the stitched formed with thecontrol 50 in the intermediate position, while the stitch width controlknob 41 is manipulated to first increase and then decrease the amplitudeof the stitches. Reference numerals 147 and 148 show the result ofsetting the control 59 to the right and left, respectively, of itsintermediate position.

Now returning to a consideration of FIG. 1, it will be seen that thenumeral 56 indicates the feed-controlling shaft. This shaft is suitablysupported within casing portion 16 and is rotated conveniently by havinga gear 57 attached to its inner end. That gear meshes .with the teeth ofa gear 58 attached to a shaft 59, supported for rotation within casingportion 17. At this time, it will be noted that a gear 60 is attached tothe upper end of shaft 59 and is driven by a gear 61 attached to shaft25. Also, it will be noted that a shaft 57 which regulates the feed isdisposed parallel to shaft 56 and within casing portion 16. The shuttle62 is operatively connected by gearing (not shown) to be operated by aturning of shaft 56. This shuttle underlies the presser foot and needlestation. Disposed above it is the usual feed element 63 serving toengage material disposed upon deck 20 and to shift that material as theneedle bar 28 moves through its cycle of operation.

Element 63 is supported by an arm 64, fixed to or integral with a shaft65 having its ends journalled in a bracket 66. Bracket 66 is pivotallysupported in the housing at its lower end and a spring 67 bears with oneend against this bracket and its opposite end against arm 64 to normallyurge the latter and element 63 in a downward direction. The bracket 66also provides an arm 68 to which there is pivotally connected a lever69. The outer end of this lever rotatably supports a shaft 70. Theopposite end of the lever bears against a horizontal feed cam (notshown) mounted by shaft 56 and acts as a follower in cooperation withthe surfaces of that earn. A crank 71 is mounted at one end by shaft 70.At its opposite end, it supports a haft connecting it with the adjacentend of a crank 72. The latter is connected to shaft 57'. A spring, oneend of which is anchored in a housing portion 73 and the other end ofwhich is adjustably fixed to shaft 57, urges said shaft to rotate in adirection such that the outer end of crank 72 is swung upward. A springsuch as 74 may conveniently cooperate with the lever and crank assembly69, 71 and 72 to urge the follower lever 69 downward onto the horizontalfeed cam mounted on shaft 56. A manually rotatable knob 75 serve toelevate or retract the position of feed element 63. This is achieved(see FIGS. 1 and 11) by means of a crank disc 76 connected to that knob,which through a pin and slot connection 77 rocks the end of a lever 78.This lever, which is pivotally supported as at 73 by a wall of thehousing, is pivotally connected as at 79 to a bell crank lever 80. Theouter end of one arm of the latter carries a roller 81. The opposite endof that bell crank lever terminates in a contact portion 82 bearingagainst a vertical feed cam 83 mounted by shaft 56. It will be apparentthat as the latter rotates, it will cause similar movement on the partof cam 83 to rock bell crank lever 80 around its pivot 79.

As bell crank lever 80 is-rocked by cam 83, roller 81 fixed on bellcrank lever 80 moves up and down. The roller 81 is slidably engaged withthe lower surface of arm 64 and supponts the latter against the actionof spring 67, which urges arm 64 and feed dog 63 in a downwarddirection. Therefore, as roller 81 moves up and down, feed dog 63 isalso moved up and down independently of the horizontal reciprocatingmovement thereof, which will be explained in detail hereinafter.

By turning disc 76, lever 78 and thus pivot 79 are shifted, and thiswill alter the zone of the material feed controlled by the dog movement.In other Words, feed dog 63 will be elevated or lowered according to themanner in which knob 75 is shifted to provide for feed or drop function.

The rocking motion imparted to lever 69 by the feed cam on shaft 56results in a rocking motion of bracket 66, by displacement of the arm68, to which the lever 69 is \pivotally connected intermediate its ends.The amplitude as Well as the direction of the rocking motion of thebracket 66 is determined by the position of the crank 72. The positionof the crank 72 is determined by the rotation of the shaft 57'. When,however, the crank 72 is placed parallel to the lever 69 (that is, withthe pivotal axis of link 71 and crank 72 coinciding with that of thelever 69 to the bracket 66), then no'displacement of the arm 68 willtake place upon rocking of the lever 69. Hence, only the verticalreciprocation of said feed dog, previously described, will take place,without any horizontal movement. When the crank 72 is elevated orlowered from this neutral position, the pivot point of the lever 69 tothe bracket 66 is off-centered with respect to the pivot or axis ofcrank 72 and link 71; therefore, as the lever 69 rotates, the arm 68 isdisplaced and the bracket is rocked. Owing to the mounting of the feeddog on the bracket, this rocking of the bracket results in a horizontalmovement of the feed dog, which combines with the vertical movementcaused by cam 83. This combined movement of the feed dog will cause 'aforward or reverse feed movement to be imparted to the material placedbetween the presser foot and feed dog. The rate of feed, or the lengthof the feed movement, is proportional to the degree of off-centering ofcrank 72 from its neutral position. The direction of the feed movementwill be determined accordingly as crank 72 is elevated or lowered fromthe neutral position.

A motor 84 as in FIG. 7 is disposed to rotate drive shaft 85. The lattersupports a gear 86. The teeth of that gear mesh with a gear 87. Thatgear is mounted upon shaft 25 by means of a uni-directional clutchstructure indicated at 88 in FIG. 2A. Attached to the outer end of shaft25 is fly wheel 89. It follows that as the latter is turned, shaft 25 isturned. Likewise, when gear 87 is rotated in one direction, both thatshaft and the fiy wheel will be rotated. However, if shaft 25 isdeliberately moved in an opposite direction, then clutch structure 88will release to prevent a rearward driving of gears 87 and 86 as well asshaft 85 and the mechanism of motor 84.

It will be noted that shaft 59 mounts a gear 90. This gear meshes withteeth of gear 91. By means of the latter, an assembly of cams involvinggroups 92 and 93 are rotated incident to the fact that they are mountedupon a shaft 94 to which the gear 91 is secured. A shaft 95 is supportedfor rotational movement at a point adjacent and preferably below theseries of cams 92 and 93. This shaft 95 has mounted upon it a followerarm 96 which, by means of a key-way or otherwise, is secured againstrotation with respect to it. That follower 96 is capable of movementaxially of shaft 95 and cooperates with one of the series of cams 92which control the feed action of element 63. To obtain this result,shaft 95 has attached to it an actuating arm 96', as shown in FIG. 9.This arm 6 engages a pin 97 secured to a lever 98, guided by means of apin and slot coupling 99 at a point intermediate its extremities andconnected to a crank 100 secured to shaft 57'. It will be rememberedthat a spring is provided to act on shaft 57' and thus urge the outerend of crank 100 upward. The action of this spring urges lever 98 andactuator 96' upward through pin 97, and finally urges follower 96 towardcam 93 through the connection provided by shaft 95 and the key thereof.It is apparent, with follower 96 cooperating with the surfaces of one ofthe cams of group 92, that when the operative portions of that earntraverse the end of the follower, the latter will rock tocorrespondingly oscillate shaft 95. This will result in arm 96 beingrocked to cause lever 98 to be similarly moved. Accordingly, crank 100will be shifted to rotate shaft 57' within a range of movement limitedby the characteristics of the particular cam involved. As

- shaft 57' shifts, it will cause a corresponding movement on the partof cranks 72 and 71 to accordingly move lever 69 as aforedescribed, andthus control the eventual movements of the feeding element 63.

Extending generally parallel to shaft 95, at a point preferably adjacentand above the axis of the cam group 92-93 (FIG. 4), is the shaft 55which is mounted for rotation. Slidably keyed on this shaft, in a mannersimilar to the support of follower 96, is a follower 101. The latteroperatively engages the cam and dwell surfaces of the group of camsindicated at 93. It will be remembered that this shaft 55 supports theledge or actuator 54. It therefore follows that when shaft 55 isoscillated, lever 51 will be rocked. This will control the reciprocationOlf link or bar 32 which, in turn, controls the arcuate movement of theneedlesupporting assembly. A lever 102 is pivotally supported as at 103for movement at its upper end substantially parallel to shaft 55. Asimilar lever 104 is pivotally supported as at 105 to have its upper endtraverse a limited zone of shaft 95. Both of these levers carry, forexample, pins 106 which engage within grooves or are otherwise suitablycoupled to followers 96 and 101 respectively. As these levers arerocked, those followers will be shifted along the axes of shafts 55 and95 to selectively overlie one of the groups of cams generally identifiedat 9293. According to the characteristics of each cam, shafts 55 and 95may be rocked. So shifted, they will cause desired movements on the partof link 32 and shaft 57 respectively.

Conveniently, a spring 107 extends between the lower ends of levers 102and 104 below their pivot points 103 and 105. This will serve to drawthose lower ends towards each other and, therefore, move the upper endsof levers 102 and 104 towards positions in the direction of the outerends of shafts 55 and 95. i

A lever (especially shown in FIG. 4) is pivotally supported as at 116.The upper end of this lever terminates in a pair of arms 117 and 118.The first of these arms is engageable with a pin 119 secured to a crank120 attached to shaft 95. The second arm 118 is engageable with thelower projecting portion of a lever or crank 121 secured to shaft 55.Therefore, if the lower end of lever 115 is moved inwardly (in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4), its arms will causeboth shafts 95 and 55 to be rotated, thereby causing the operative endsof followers 96 and 102 to clear the peripheral portions of theindividual cams embraced in groups 92 and 93. e

The lower end of lever 115 terminates in a contact portion 123.Referring to FIG. 6, this portion is disposed in line with a plate 124.The latter is attached to a shaft 125 mounting on its outer end a knob126. This knob extends into the recess of a dial member 128. A spring127 has one end bearing against the base of this recess with itsopposite end bearing against the knob 126 to normally maintain thelatter in projected position. Shaft 125 is formed with a notch 129 andis encircled by a spring plate 130 secured at one end by a bolt orotherwise to the base element 131 of a dial assembly. The opposite endof spring plate 130 is preferably hook-shaped as at 132. The base ofdial 123 presents rearwardly flared side edges 133 which extend adjacentthe hook-shaped end portion 132.

It is apparent that when knob 126 is projected inwardly, it will shiftplate 124 to correspondingly move the actuating portion 123 of lever115. So shifted, the detent structure provided by the spring plate orelement 130 in association with notch or groove 129 Will retain theshaft 125 in the position to which it has been shifted. Under thesecircumstances, knob 126 will be almost completely housed within dial oractuator 128. The latter is slidable on shaft 125 and normally retainedin retracted position as a consequence of the spring 127. Therefore, ifit is desired to again cause knob 126 to shift to the position shown inFIG. 6, then an operator by simply grasping dial 128 and moving itoutwardly will cause the cam surfaces 133 to engage with the end portion132 of spring 130. This will result in that spring flexing and ridingout of notch or groove 129, thereby releasing shaft 125 and knob 126.

As shown, casing portion 17 is formed with an opening in line with thepattern dial assembly shown in FIG. 6. This opening is formed with itsedges embracing a flange 134. A plate 135 overlies the opening and issecured to a hub 131 which is journaled in a hub 136. The latter isformed with a flange 137 mating with flange 134 to prevent an inwardmovement of the assembly. Within casing portion 17, the collar or hub131 conveniently supports a separator disc 138. Upon the inner side ofthis disc, a cam 139 is mounted. A similar control cam 140 is mounted onthe opposite disc face.

As especially shown in FIG. 8, the ends of levers 102 and 104 terminatein follower or contact portions riding against the peripheries of cams140 and 139 respectively. A cam type spring-pressed detent 141 iscarried by hub 136 and may engage within one of a number of recesses oropenings 142 formed in a plate 143 interposed between cam 140 and hub136. Plate 135 is conveniently enclosed by a plate 143' extending insealing engagement with a suitable edge portion of casing 17. Asparticularly illus trated in FIG. 5, the outer face of plate 135 bearsthereon data conveniently in the form of representations of stitches144. Also it bears upon its face a legend 145 such as Manual. The cover143' which is transparent may conveniently bear upon it a framingportion 146. Within the latter, there may be registered the legend 145or the representations 144 by rotation of the dial assembly. The plate135 is fixedly secured to hub 131 to which cams 139 and 140 are alsosecured. Therefore, plate 135 will always signify by its displayedindicia 144 and 145, the relationship of cams 139 and 140 which serve totraverse levers 102 and 104. Those levers in turn shift the followers 96and 102 axially of their shafts so that these followers are in registrywith predetermined cams of the 92-93 series. Accordingly, the movementsof links 32 and shaft 57' will be controlled in a correlated manner suchthat needle bar 28, in cooperation with feed element 63 will causerelative aggregate movements resulting in the desired stitch pattern.

As will be appreciated, when knob 126 is pressed inwardly and shaft 125is retained in position by the detent structure 129-130, the latteradditionally assures that a turning of knob 128 will result in a turningof plate 135, hub 136 and the cams attached thereto. With the inwardpressing of shaft 125, lever 115 has shifted shafts 55 and 95 so thatthe followers carried thereby clear the edge portions of cams 92-93.With such clearance, the turning of the dial assembly permits levers 102and 104 to freely shift the followers without the latter beingobstructed by the raised portions of the cams. Therefore, the followersmay be brought to predetermined positions precisely overlying theperipheries of desired cams and only thereupon, with the release ofshaft 125, will lever 123 return to its normal position. In thatposition, it is apparent that shafts 55 and are axially rotated so thefollowers carried thereby engage the peripheries of the cams.

Attention is next invited to FIG. 9, in which manually shiftableactuator 112 is shown as pivotally supported as at 114. This actuatormay also have coupled to it a plate 151. The latter overlies shaft 95 ata point immediately beyond the last of cams 92. When the dial isadjusted to have the Manual indication 145 in registry with the framingaperture 146, then the cam 139 will have thrown the end of lever 104 toa position at which the follower 96 underlies the obstruction providedby plate 151. Under those circumstances, the follower arm 96 can beregulated manually by depression of the actuator 112.. Simultaneously,the follower 101 will be shifted into cooperating engagement with theperiphery of a cam of the series 93, which establishes a zigzag patternon the part of needle 28. By adjusting the am litude control 41, asespecially described heretofore in connection with FIG. 10, thisoscillation of the needle bar may be nullified. Accordingly, a straightline of stitching results, since shaft 57 will be maintained in a fixedposition determined by the follower 96 engaging the underside of theplate 151 under the influence of the spring surrounding shaft 57.Moreover, by depressing actuator 112, shaft 95 may be moved to causelever 98 to rock shaft 57' to a position at which a reverse feed takesplace. The rate of the reverse feeding movement may be controlled bymeans of the actuator 108.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated in the present assembly thattwo series of cams are provided. One of these controls the oscillatingmovement of the needle bar which, in cooperation with straight feedingof the material, results in a basic stitch of the zigzag type. The otherseries of cams controls the feed mechanism which shifts the material.These cams are, according to the present teachings, arranged in acompact group and by means of a single control assembly and dial, it isfeasible to have the followers cooperate with various cams of thedifferent series to permutate the motions of the mechanisms and thusproduce precisely the desired stitch. The amplitude of that stitch maybe varied by a further control and, in the case of certain types ofstitches, nullified entirely so that a straight line of stitchingbecomes feasible. The desired stitch pattern may be variously disposedwithin a given zone of the material underlying the presser foot. Ofcourse, in lieu of a single needle 29, two or more needles may beemployed and if necessary the shuttle assembly might be modified tofurther amplify the number of permutations and stitch patterns capableof production. As aforedescribed, the feed may be reversed in action.Accordingly, an operator will be able to produce effects withoutresorting to numerous different controls which have to be correlatedwith respect to each other.

Thus among others, the several objects as specifically aforenoted areachieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangementsof the parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. In a sewing machine having a frame, a needle bar mounted in saidframe for lateral oscillation and for endwise reciprocation, .a mainshaft journaled in said frame for rotation, operative connectionsbetween said main shaft and needle bar for imparting endwisereciprocation to said needle bar upon rotation of said shaft, a pitmanoperatively connected to said needle bar for imparting vibration theretoupon actuation of said pitman, and means for actuating said pitmanduring operation of the sewing machine comprising a plurality of axiallyaligned stitch-pattern cams rotatably carried by said frame with theaxis thereof extending in the same direction as the axis of the mainshaft, drive connections between said main shaft and said cams forrotating said cams upon rotation of said main shaft, a pivot shaftjournaled in said frame on an axis parallel to the axis of said cams,

a cam follower mounted on and slidable along said pivot shaft foroperatively engaging said cam follower with a selected one of said cams,said cam follower being keyed to said pivot shaft for unitary turning,means for biasing said cam follower into operative engagement with theperiphery of a selected one of said cams, said cams imparting a patternof oscillation to said cam follower .and said pivot shaft upon rotationof said cams, and operative connections between said pivot shaft andsaid pitman for actuating said pitman upon oscillation of said pivotshaft. 7

2. In a sewing machine having a frame, a needle bar mounted in saidframe for lateral oscillation and endwise reciprocation, a main shaftjournaled in said frame for rotation, operative connections between saidmain shaft Shaft, drive connections between said main shaft and said camshaft for rotating said cam shaft upon rotation of said main shaft, aplurality of stitch-pattern cams carried by said cam shaft, a pivotshaft journaled in said frame on an axis parallel to the axis of saidmain shaft, a cam follower mounted on and slidable along said pivotshaft for operatively engaging said cam follower with a selected one ofsaid cams, said cam follower being keyed to said pivot shaft for unitaryturning and operative connections between said pivot shaft and saidpitman for actuating said pitman upon actuation of said pivot shaft.

3. In a sewing machine having a frame, a needle-bar mounted in saidframe for lateral movements and endwise reciprocation, a main shaftjournaled in said frame for rotation, operative connections between saidmainshaft and said needle-bar for imparting endwise reciprocation tosaid needle-bar upon rotation of said shaft, a pitman operativelyconnected to said needle-bar for imparting lateral movements theretoupon actuation of said pitman, and means for actuating said pitmanduring operation of the sewing machine comprising .a plurality ofaxially aligned stitch-pattern cams rotatably carried by said frame withthe axis thereof extending in the same direction as the axis of the mainshaft, drive connections between said main shaft and said cams forrotating said cams upon rotation of said main shaft, a pivot shaftjournaled in said frame on an axis parallel to the axis of said cams, acam follower mountedby and slidable along said pivot shaft foroperatively engaging said cam follower with a selected one of said cams,said cam follower being keyed to said 'pivot shaft for unitary turning,means for biasing said cam follower into operative engagement with theperiphery of a selected one of said cams, said cams imparting a patternof oscillation to said cam follower and said pivot shaft upon rotationof said cams,

operative connections between said pivot shaft and said pitman foractuating said pitman upon oscillation of said pivot shaft, a manuallyoperable actuator rotatably supported by said frame, a selector camcarried by said actuator for unitary turning, and a lever engaging saidselector cam with one end thereof and the other end connected to saidcam follower, whereby said cam follower is shifted in response tomovements of the surface of said selector cam to operatively engage aselected cam of said stitchpattern cams for producing desired patternsupon manual rotation of said actuator.

4. In a sewing machine having a frame, a needle-bar mounted in saidframe for lateral movements and endwise reciprocation, a main shaftjournaled in said frame for rotation, operative connections between saidmainshaft and said needle-bar for imparting endwise reciprocation tosaid needle-bar upon rotation of said shaft, a

pitman operatively connected to said needle-bar for imparting lateralmovements thereto upon actuation of said pitman, and means for actuatingsaid pitman during operation of the sewing machine comprising aplurality of axially aligned stitch-pattern cams rotatably carried bysaid frame with the axis thereof extending in the same direction as theaxis of the main shaft, drive connections between said main shaft andsaid cams for rotating said cams upon rotation of said main shaft, apivot shaft journaled in said frame on an axis parallel to the axis ofsaid cams, a cam follower mounted by and slidable along said pivot shaftfor operatively engaging said cam follower with a selected one of saidcams, said cam follower being keyed to said pivot shaft for unitaryturning, means for biasing said cam follower into operative engagementwith the periphery of a selected one of said cams, said cams imparting apattern of oscillation to said cam follower and said pivot shaft uponrotation of said cams, operative connections between said pivot shaftand said pitman for actuating said pitman upon oscillation of said pivotshaft, a manually operable actuator supported by said frame for rotationand axial movements with respect thereto, a selector cam carried by saidactuator for unitary turning, a lever engaging said selector cam withone end thereof and the other end connected to said oam follower, andconnecting means between said pivot shaft and said actuator for rotatingsaid pivot shaft by the axial movement of said actuator, whereby saidcam follower is withdrawn from the surface of said one cam by axialmovement of said actuator prior to the axial shifting of the camfollower for selecting of stitch patterns by rotation of said actuator.

5. In a sewing machine having a frame, a needle-bar mounted in saidframe for lateral movements and endwise reciprocation, a main shaftjournaled in said frame for rotation, operative connections between saidmain shaft and said needle-bar for imparting endwise reciprocation tosaid needle-bar upon rotation of said shaft, a pitman operativelyconnected to said needle-bar for imparting lateral movements theretoupon actuation of said pitman, and means for actuating said pitmanduring operation of said sewing machine comprising a cam shaft journaledfor rotation in said frame and arranged parallel to said main shaft,drive connections between said main shaft and said cam shaft forrotating said cam shaft upon rotation of said main shaft, a plurality ofstitch- 1 pattern cams carried by said cam shaft, a'pivot shaftjournaled in said frame on an axis parallel to the axis of said mainshaft, a cam follower mounted on and slidable along said pivot shaft foroperatively engaging said cam follower with a selected one of said cams,said cam fol- 6. In a sewing machine having a frame, a needle-barmounted in said frame for lateral oscillation and endwise reciprocation,a main shaft journaled in said frame for rotation, operative connectionsbetween said main shaft and said needle-bar for imparting endwisereciprocation to said needle-bar upon rotation of said shaft, a pitmanoperatively connected to, said needle-bar for imparting lateralmovements thereto upon actuation of said pitman, and means for actuatingsaid pitman during operation of said sewing machine comprising a camshaft journaled for rotation in said frame and arranged parallel tosaid' 3 1' main shaft, drive connections between said main shaft andsaid cam shaft for rotating said cam shaft upon rotation of said mainshaft, a'plurality of stitch-pattern cams carried by said cam shaft, apivot shaft journaled in said frame on an axis parallel to the axis ofsaid main shaft, a cam follower mounted on and slidable along said pivotshaft for operatively engaging said cam follower with a selected one ofsaid cams, said cam follower being keyed to said pivot shaft for unitaryturning and operative connections between said pivot shaft and saidpitman for actuation of said pivot shaft, a manually operable actuatorsupported by said frame for rotation and axial movements with respectthereto, a selector cam carried by said actuator for unitary turning, alever engaging said selector cam with one end thereof and the other endconnected to said cam follower, and connecting means between said pivotshaft and said actuator for rotating said pivot shaft by the axialmovement of said actuator, whereby said cam follower is withdrawn fromthe surface of said one cam by axial movement of said actuator prior tothe axial shifting of the cam follower for selecting a desired stitcpattern by rotation of said actuator.

7. In a sewing machine having a frame, a needle-bar mounted in saidframe for lateral movements and for reciprocation, a main shaftjournaled in said frame for rotation, operative connections between saidmain shaft and said needle-bar for imparting endwise reciprocation tosaid needle-bar upon rotation of said shaft, a pitman operativelyconnected to said needle-bar for imparting lateral movements theretoupon actuation of said pitman, a feed mechanism actuated by said mainshaft for shifting material under said needle-bar, said feed mechanismhaving a feed adjusting mechanism for adjusting the feed direction andthe scope of said feed mechanism, and means actuating said pitman andsaid feed adjusting mechanism during operation of the sewing machinecomprising a cam shaft journaled for rotation in said frame andarrangedparallel to said main shaft, drive connections between said main shaftand said cam shaft for rotating said cam shaft upon rotation of saidmain shaft, a plurality of stitch-pattern cams carried by said camshaft, two pivot shafts journaled in said frame on spaced axes parallelto the axis of said main shaft, two cam followers mounted on andslidable along said each pivot shaft for operatively engaging said eachcam follower with a separately selected one of said cams, said camfollowers being keyed to said pivot shafts for unitary turning, and oneof said pivot shafts being connected to said pitman and the otherconnected to said feed adjusting mechanism for actuating said pitman andsaid feed adjusting mechanism upon actuation of said each pivot shaft.

8. In a sewing machine having a frame, a needle-bar mounted in saidframe for lateral movements and for reciprocation, a main shaftjournaled in said frame for rotation, operative connections between saidmain shaft and said needle-bar for imparting endwise reciprocation tosaid needle-bar upon rotation of said shaft, a pitman operativelyconnected to said needle-bar for imparting vibration thereto uponactuation of said pitman, a feed mechanism actuated by said main shaftfor shifting material under said needle-bar, said feed mechanism havinga feed adjusting mechanism for adjusting the feed direction and thescope of said feed mechanism, and means actuating said pitman and saidfeed adjusting mechanism during operation of the sewing machinecomprising a cam shaft journalled for rotation in said frame andarranged parallel to said main shaft, drive connections between saidmain shaft and said cam shaft for rotating said cam shaft upon rotationof said main shaft, a plurality of stitch-pattern cams carried by saidcam shaft, two pivot shafts journalcd in said frame on spaced axesparallel to the axis of said main shaft, two cam followers mounted onand slidable along said each pivot shaft for operatively engaging saideach cam follower with a separately selected one of said cams, said camfollowers being keyed to said pivot shafts for unitary turning, amanually operable actuator rotatably supported by said frame, twoselector cams carried by said actuator for unitary turning, and twolevers, said each lever being engaged by one of said selector cams withone end thereof and the other end connected to one of said camfollowers, whereby said cam followers are shifted in response to thesurface of said each selector cam to select a set of cams from said camsfor producing desired patterns upon manual rotation of said actuator.

9. In a sewing machine having a frame, a needle-bar mounted in saidframe for lateral movements and for reciprocation, a main shaftjournaled in said frame for rotation, operative connections between saidmain shaft and said needle-bar for imparting reciprocation to saidneedle-bar upon rotation of said shaft, a pitman operatively connectedto said needle-bar for imparting vibration thereto upon actuation ofsaid pitman, a feed mechanism actuated by said main shaft for shiftingmaterial under said needle-bar, said feed mechanism having a feedadjusting mechanism for adjusting the feed direction and the scope ofsaid feed mechanism, and means actuating said pitman and said feedadjusting mechanism during operation of the sewing machine comprising acam shaft journaled for rotation in said frame and arranged parallel tosaid main shaft, drive connections between said main shaft and said camshaft for rotating said cam shaft upon rotation of said main shaft, aplurality of stitch-pattern cams carried by said cam shaft, two pivotshafts journaled in said frame on spaced axes parallel to the axis ofsaid main shaft, two cam followers mounted on and slidable along saideach pivot shaft for operatively engaging said each cam follower with aseparately selected one of said cams said cam followers being keyed tosaid pivot shafts for unitary turning, a manually operable actuatorsupported by said frame for rotation and axial movements with respectthereto, two selector cams carried by said actuator for unitary turning,two levers, said each lever being engaged by one cam of said selectorcams with one end thereof and the other end connected to one of said camfollowers, and connecting means between said each pivot shaft and saidactuator for rotating said pivot shafts by the axial movement of saidactuator, whereby said cam followers are withdrawn from the surface ofsaid each one cam by axial movement of said actuator prior to the axialshifting of the cam followers for selecting a desired stitch pattern byrotation of said actuator.

' References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,653,5579/1953 Casas-Robert et al. l12-98 2,755,754 7/1956 Urscheler 1121582,854,935 10/1958 Benink et al. 112158 2,862,468 12/1958 Johnson 1121582,905,119 9/1959 Bono 112-158 FOREIGN PATENTS 300,900 11/1954Switzerland.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL KOREN, THOMAS J. HICKEY, Examiners.

G. MYSLIWIEC, H. D. COOPER, R. I. SCANLAN,

Assistant Examiners.

1. IN A SEWING MACHINE HAVING A FRAME, A NEEDLE BAR MOUNTED IN SAIDFRAME FOR LATERAL OSCILLATION AND FOR ENDWISE RECIPROCATION, MAIN SHAFTJOURNALED IN SAID FRAME FOR ROTATION, OPERATIVE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SAIDMAIN SHAFT AND NEEDLE BAR FOR IMPARTING ENDWISE RECIPROCATION TO SAIDNEEDLE BAR UPON ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT, A PITMAN OPERATIVELY CONNECTEDTO SAID NEEDLE BAR FOR IMPARTING VIBRATION THERETO UPON ACTUATION OFSAID PITMAN, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID PITMAN DURING OPERATION OF THESEWING MACHINE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY ALIGNED STITCH-PATTERNCAMS ROTATABLY CARRIED BY SAID FRAME WITH THE AXIS THEREOF EXTENDING INTHE SAME DIRECTION AS THE AXIS OF THE MAIN SHAFT, DRIVE CONNECTIONSBETWEEN SAID MAIN SHAFT AND SAID CAMS FOR ROTATING SAID CAMS UPONROTATION OF SAID MAIN SHAFT, A PIVOT SHAFT JOURNALED IN SAID FRAME ON ANAXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID CAMS, A CAM FOLLOWER MOUNTED ON SAIDSLIDABLE ALONG SAID PIVOT SHAFT FOR OPERATIVELY ENGAGING SAID CAMFOLLOWER WITH A SELECTED ONE OF SAID CAMS, SAID CAM FOLLOWER BEING KEYEDTO SAID PIVOT SHAFT FOR UNITARY TURNING, MEANS FOR% BIASING SAID CAMFOLLOWER INTO OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PERIPHERY OF A SELECTED ONEOF SAID CAMS, SAID CAMS IMPARTING A PATTERN OF OSCILLATION TO SAID CAMFOLLOWER AND SAID PIVOT SHAFT UPON ROTATION OF SAID CAMS, AND OPERATIVECONNECTIONS BETWEEN SAID PIVOT SHAFT AND SAID PITMAN FOR CONNECTIONSBETWEEN SAID PIVOT SHAFT AND SAID PIVOT SHAFT.